Water treatment product, delivery method and means of packaging

ABSTRACT

A water treatment product comprising a mixture of at least one active ingredient and a first fluid, wherein the concentration in the product of the active ingredient is at least 50% on a weight basis and the viscosity of the product is at least 2,000 centipoise or 2 pascal seconds, the product adapted to be further diluted upon addition to a second fluid stream to be treated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/729,995, filed 9 Dec. 2003, which was based upon U.S.provisional patent application No. 60/432,242, filed 11 Dec. 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved water treatment chemicalproduct and in particular to a water treatment product, packaging means,dispensing means, and delivery means for the water treatment product.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Many industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential watersupplies suffer from objectionable conditions. Often, treatment measuresare implemented with the addition of chemical treatments to the watersupply, including for example phosphate or silicate compounds. In orderto make the addition of the chemical treatment into the water supply,the chemical product must be made available in a deliverable and usableform.

Products and delivery methods for water treatment processes are known.In the most commonly used form, the water treatment material forpoint-of-use applications is delivered as a solid, powdered, platelet,or granular material. The material could be packaged in a number ofways, ranging from bulk containers and bins, to smaller packages, pails,or cartridges.

Examples include many commonly available water treatment compositionswhich are often delivered or sold in bags (whether cloth, paper orplastic) or buckets. Perhaps the most common water treatmentcomposition, commercially available pool chlorine, gives an indicationof the variety of ways in which the chemical may be available. Theproblem faced by users of the chemical is that chlorine for example maybe toxic and it is unwise to allow the chlorine to contact exposed skinand especially the eyes.

The form in which the chemical is available also often defines thepackaging that the product may be sold in. For example, due to the factthat chlorine release agents are noxious, they are generally not sold inpaper bags and almost always sold in plastic buckets.

In smaller, point-of-use type, removable cartridge type, bypass orflow-through type dispensers, the most widely used water treatmentmaterials are either powdered, platelet, granular, or solid products.These materials are slowly dissolved and are dispensed into the waterflow-stream. The vessel in which the water treatment product iscontained typically requires constant attention. This is typicallycaused because insoluble compounds form in the dispensers causing thematerials to cake-up, or become mushy, and clog the dispenser fittingsand tubing.

With powdered, platelet, granular, or solid water treatment products,the formation of insoluble materials limits the time the dispensers canbe used without servicing. In some cases, up to 50% of the watertreatment product can be transformed into an insoluble mush (typically aform of calcium phosphate).

Typical with powdered, platelet, granular, or solid products, after theoperator pours in the material and fills the dispensing vessel withwater, a period of time must be allowed for all the material to soak,and the entrapped air or gases to rise up and out of the material.Typically, a bleed-screw is used to attempt to vent out all of theentrapped air or gas after the vessel has been pressurized.

Another form of water treatment material is a liquid product. Liquidproducts are typically dispensed using a mechanical metering pump. Theuse of a metering pump has the effect of limiting the concentration ofthe solids suspended in solution as different pump types are notamenable to the pumping of solids in solution. If the concentration ofsolids is too high, then the pump can be fouled and its operating lifeshortened.

An important distinction in the above discussion is the differencebetween a solution and a suspension. Suspensions, colloids and solutionsare different kinds of “mixtures” comprising at least two components,notionally called A and B. The difference lies in the size (diameter,extension) of the particles of A surrounded by B.

In the case of suspensions and colloids, A is generally a solid and B isa liquid. The solid particles of a suspension are so coarse that theysettle to the bottom of the container when stirring stops. The solids ina colloid are ground down to a size of about 1/1000 millimeter or less,so that thermal motion, electrostatic repulsion and other forces usuallykeep the particles aloft. Yet even in a colloid, there are stillidentifiable chunks of matter present, though “visible” only under theelectron microscope or indirectly by light scattering.

In the case of solutions, on the other hand, the “fineness of division”goes down right to the atomic (or molecular) scale, that is millionthsof a millimeter. Solutions of A in B can only be made if A is soluble inB, that is if the molecules of B have an “affinity” to those of A whichsurpasses the affinity of the A and B molecules among themselves. Thesolubility, however, is also influenced by the increase of “disorder”which happens upon dissolution.

So generally when most water treatment products are added to water, atthe very first moment, a suspension is formed, which, in certain casesspontaneously transforms into a solution. This only occurs if the watertreatment product is soluble in water. Some materials for examplesilicon dioxide, are practically insoluble in water.

For dispensing into a fluid stream, conventional solid, powdered orgranular water treatment products are first diluted with a fluid,usually water, in concentrations up to approximately 360 kg/m³ or 3lbs/gallon (US). This initial mixing could be done in a processingfacility, for the packaging and delivery of liquid product to thecustomer, or it could be done on-site at the point-of-use through whatare referred to as day-tanks, flow-through type dispensers, or bypasstype dispensers. With the addition of elemental components, such aszinc, the elemental component would first be dissolved in an acidsolution then added to the water treatment product. This limits the useof elemental components in deliverable solid, powdered or granular watertreatment products.

The abovementioned products and delivery forms all have theirshortcomings. The novel new form of the material in this invention hasdemonstrated desirable characteristics of limited solubility andcontrolled solubility that are sought after in the water treatmentindustry. The present invention is designed to be easier to use, easierto transport (lending itself to mail-order shipping and servicing),provides higher capacity in a more reliable, cleaner, and manageableform. The water treatment product of this invention is particularlyimportant for the provision of another alternative of water treatment tothe customer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved water treatmentproduct, packaging, dispensing, and delivery means, which may at leastpartially overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide theconsumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a water treatment productcomprising a mixture of at least one active ingredient and a firstfluid, wherein the concentration of the active ingredient is at least50% on a weight basis and the viscosity of the mixture is at least 2,000centipoise or 2 pascal seconds, the mixture adapted to be furtherdiluted upon addition to a second fluid stream to be treated.

In the present composition, the viscosity of the mixture may preferablyrange from a heavy syrup (viscosity of above approximately 2,000centipoise or 2 Pa·s) to a thick paste (viscosity of approximately50,000 centipoise or 50 Pa·s). These viscosities may preferably beachieved by mixing powdered or granular ortho and polyphosphate blendswith the preferred first fluid, water, at weight ratios in the order of50:50 to 80:20, respectively. The mixture may also be referred to as agel. Other active ingredients that may be used in the mixture describedabove include elemental or compound forms of zinc, magnesium, copper,calcium, nitrites, nitrates, molybdates, dispersants, biocides, andbiostats, but it is to be understood that this list is in no wayintended to be limiting. Active ingredients may preferably be used incombination or separately.

The active ingredient in the water treatment product may suitably be anychemical, biological or other material suitable for treating a fluid.The active ingredient may for example, be suitably directed towards thetreatment of corrosion, scale, deposits, and microbiological problems ofpipes and equipment through which the fluid may flow. In a particularlypreferred form, the active ingredient may be orthophosphate,polyphosphate or silicate. Also, elemental zinc may be added to thewater treatment product at the point of packaging in order to provideincreased effectiveness. It is preferred that the zinc may be addedimmediately prior to sealing the packaging container.

In a second form, the invention resides in an improved packaging means,which incorporates a water treatment product installed in a stand-uppouch. The pouch may for example be similar to the type described inWO9118797 or EP0620156. These inventions are generally directed toflexible, plastic pouches for containment of a liquid. The pouches areformed from flexible-plastic material as to have a unitary base portionwhich allows the liquid container or pouch to stand upright. Theflexible-plastic liquid containers or pouches containing theabove-mentioned water treatment product as well as other sorts ofliquids may preferably be transparent, translucent, or opaque, generallyfor purposes of catching the eye of the consumer. A further aspect ofthis invention may include the use of flexible tube type containers,similar to those used for toothpaste. A further aspect of this inventionincludes the use of pouches made of a water-soluble material that wouldgradually dissolve after placement of the pouch in water, preferablyreleasing the product at a rate partially determined by the solubilityrate of the package.

The water treatment product installed in the pouch could be any suitableproduct. It is anticipated that the water treatment product describedabove may be contained in the packaging means. Equally a liquid,suspension or granular solution may be contained. These packages maysuitably serve as a type of “refill cartridge” for water treatmentdispensing apparatuses, preferably with a label indicating materialapproved for potable water applications.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the abovementioned packagingmeans, the packaging means may preferably be made to be engageable withan opening of a chemical holding container of a bypass or flow-throughtype dispenser. The opening in the chemical holding container of abypass or flow-through type dispenser may be provided at any location onthe container but a particularly preferred location may be the base ofthe container or a side wall. The water treatment product package maysuitably be squeezed, thereby forcibly injecting the water treatmentliquid or gel into the holding container. One particularly preferredmethod of applying force to the flexible tube type containers, similarto those used for toothpaste is through the use of a roll-up toolgenerally comprising a pair of spaced apart arm members adapted toengage the base of the tube and maintain the base between the armmembers as the tool is rotated, rolling the flexible tube about the armmembers. This alleviates work associated with having to pour into afunnel, or waiting for the material to flow out of the package into thecontainer by gravity alone.

Alternatively, the packaging means may be associated with the chemicalholding container via a tube, directly with the container or indirectlythrough attachment to the pipe through which the fluid to be treatedflows. The tube may be provided with connectors at at least one endthereof in order to attach the tube to the packaging means and/or thechemical holding container. The connectors may be threaded connectorsallowing removable attachment.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, thetube may be attachable more or less permanently to the chemical holdingcontainer using a threaded type connector as described above. Theopposite end of the tube may not have a connector, but be left bare.According to this embodiment, the tube may be forced into acorrespondingly-sized opening in the packaging means and maintainedthere by an interference type fit. The opening of the packaging meansmay be provided with a sealing means for improving the seal between thetube and the opening of the packaging means.

A unique arrangement of “tees” or access ports and valves may beprovided to a water treatment dispensing apparatus allowing therecharging of the dispenser apparatus without the need to remove thecap. Particularly, at least one non-return valve may be used with anyfitting preventing back-flow of the treatment product into the packagingmeans. This method may also allow the dispenser to be recharged withouthaving to turn off the water pressure, alleviating the nuisance ofdisrupting water service to occupants or equipment.

The water treatment packaging means may preferably be equipped with apouring spout that engages either directly, or via a tube or connector,with a water treatment dispensing apparatus' filler opening, access-tee,or port. Also, the packaging means may be a removable and disposable“cartridge” that would be used with a flow-through type dispenser.

The tube or packaging means may be associated with the chemical holdingcontainer of the water treatment dispenser or may be associated with apipe or the like through which the fluid to be treated flows.Appropriate fittings may be provided to allow the association with thepipe or the dispensing apparatus.

In smaller, point-of-use type, bypass or flow-through type dispenser,the most widely used water treatment materials are either powdered,platelet, granular, or solid products. These materials slowly dissolvedand are dispensed into the water flow-stream. This action is referred toas “controlled solubility” or “limited solubility”. The vessel in whichthe water treatment product is contained typically requires regularflushing. This is typically caused because insoluble compounds form inthe dispensers causing the materials to cake-up, or become mushy, andclog the dispenser fittings and tubing.

With powdered, platelet, granular, or solid water treatment products,the formation of insoluble materials limits the time the dispensers canbe used without servicing. In some cases, more than 50% of the watertreatment product can be transformed into an insoluble mush (typically aform of calcium phosphate).

The inventor's observations have shown that the use of the improvedpackaging means of the present invention greatly mitigates the problemof insoluble products forming in dispensers and provides improvedcharacteristics in terms of controlled solubility and limitedsolubility. These features greatly improve the function and reliabilityof the dispensing equipment. Consequently, the dispensers can operatefor a longer period of time between servicing.

Also, with the use of the liquid gel product, the inventor found thatnot only is the problem of insoluble products forming in dispensersmitigated and improved characteristics in terms of controlled solubilityand limited solubility realised, but the problem of air entrapment thatis common with the use of powdered, granular, or solid products, hasbeen greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Typical with powdered,platelet, granular, or solid products, after the operator pours in thematerial and fills the dispensing vessel with water, a period of timemust be allowed for all the material to soak, and the entrapped air orgases to rise up and out of the material. Typically, a bleed-screw isused to attempt to vent out all of the entrapped air or gas after thevessel has been pressurized. Again, the water treatment product of thepresent invention has greatly reduced this problem and provides fasterand more reliable servicing of the dispensing equipment.

Liquid materials used for water treatment are of sufficient viscositiesto accommodate metering pumps. The weight ratio of phosphate powder towater in a typical water treatment phosphate liquid for example, wouldbe in the order of 30:70, respectively. This material would have a lowerviscosity value than that defined above for use as a water treatmentgel. The water treatment product of the present invention is notgenerally suitable for metering pump applications, having a higherviscosity in the order of 2,000 to 50,000 centipoise. The product of thepresent invention is particularly adapted and directed to use inpoint-of-use bypass or flow-through type dispensers, or in other usageswhere the gel could first be diluted and then dispensed with a meteringpump. Also the product could provide improved performance in what arereferred to as “day tanks”, vessels that are filled on a near dailybasis for treating large quantities of water. A key part of the functionof the product is that the dissolution rate is independent of the amountof the material in the dispenser, and directly a function of the surfacearea exposed to the unsaturated water causing it to be consumed at aconstant rate.

The invention according to the present invention may also reside in amethod for refilling a water treatment dispensing apparatus using animproved packaging means as described herein, the method comprising thesteps of operatively associating the improved packaging means containingwater treatment product with the dispensing apparatus and applying aforce to the improved packaging means to force the water treatmentproduct into the water treatment dispensing apparatus.

Preferably, the water treatment dispensing apparatus will comprise achemical holding container for holding chemical, the container having anattachment for a flow entry means for directing fluid flow into thechemical holding container and a flow exit means for directing fluidflow out of the chemical holding container, the chemical holdingcontainer having an opening means which is releasably engageable forrefilling.

The chemical holding container normally is charged with a predeterminedamount of a chemical which is dispensed into the fluid to be treated.The amount of chemical in the chemical holding container therefore wouldnormally decrease over time as chemical was used.

The improved packaging means according to an aspect of the presentinvention preferably contains replacement chemical for recharging thechemical holding container. According to the preferred embodiments ofthe improved packaging means, preferred steps in the method forrefilling the water treatment dispensing apparatus are disclosed.

Suitably the step of operatively associating the improved packagingmeans containing water treatment product with the dispensing apparatusmay comprise orienting an opening in the improved packaging means withan opening in the chemical holding container of a dispenser. The openingin the chemical holding container of a dispenser may be provided at anylocation on the container but a particularly preferred location may bethe base of the container or a side wall. The respective openings may bereleasably secured adjacent one another while the refilling takes place.

Alternatively, the packaging means may be associated with the chemicalholding container via a tube, either directly with the container orindirectly through attachment to the pipe through which the fluid to betreated flows. The tube may be provided with connectors at at least oneend thereof in order to attach the tube to the packaging means and/orthe chemical holding container. The connectors may be threadedconnectors allowing removable attachment.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, thetube may be attachable more or less permanently to the chemical holdingcontainer using a threaded type connector as described above. Theopposite end of the tube may not have a connector, but may be left bare.According to this embodiment, the tube may be forced into acorrespondingly-sized opening in the packaging means and maintainedthere by an interference type fit. The opening of the packaging meansmay be provided with a sealing means for improving the seal between thetube and the opening of the packaging means.

A unique arrangement of “tees” or access ports and valves may beprovided to a water treatment dispensing apparatus allowing therecharging of the dispenser apparatus without the need to remove the capof the chemical dispenser. Particularly, at least one non-return valvemay be used with any fitting preventing back-flow of the treatmentproduct into the packaging means. This method may also allow thedispenser to be recharge without having to turn off the water pressure,alleviating the nuisance of disrupting water service to occupants orequipment. The chemical dispenser may be associated with a ventingassembly allowing the refilling of the chemical holding containerwithout a build-up of pressure within the chemical holding container.The vent may be opened after the attachment of the improved packagingmeans to allow the entry of the refilling chemical to displace fluidfrom the chemical holding container to maintain the pressure therein.

The water treatment packaging means may preferably be equipped with apouring spout that engages either directly, or via a tube or connector,with a water treatment dispensing apparatus' filler opening, access-tee,or port. Also, the packaging means may be a removable and disposable“cartridge” that would be used with a flow-through type dispenser.

The tube or packaging means may be associated with the chemical holdingcontainer of the water treatment dispenser or may be associated with apipe or the like through which the fluid to be treated flows.Appropriate fittings may be provided to allow the association with thepipe or the dispensing apparatus.

The water treatment product package may suitably be squeezed, therebyforcibly injecting the water treatment liquid or gel into the holdingcontainer. One particularly preferred method of applying force to theflexible tube type containers, similar to those used for toothpaste isthrough the use of a roll-up tool generally comprising a pair of spacedapart arm members adapted to engage the base of the tube and maintainthe base between the arm members as the tool is rotated, rolling theflexible tube about the arm members. This alleviates work associatedwith having to pour into a funnel, or waiting for the material to flowout of the package into the container by gravity alone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Stand-up pouch refill cartridge used for water treatment liquidand gel material with spout, removable cap, and Label. In this case thepouring spout can be engaged by threading into a receiving end of achemical dispenser allowing the product to be forcibly squeezed into thedispenser.

FIG. 2 A conventional tube package with a pouring spout that can beengaged by threading into a receiving end of a chemical dispenser.

FIG. 2A A conventional tube package with a specifically designed spoutthat is made to create a pressure tight fit between the inside diameterof the spout and the outside diameter of a removable tube. Also shown isa tool used to roll-up the tube to forcibly squeeze the liquid or gelproduct into the dispenser.

FIG. 3 A modified stand-up pouch with a pouring spout specificallydesigned to create a pressure tight fit between the inside diameter ofthe spout and the outside diameter of a removable tube. In this drawinga cap is shown can be screwed onto the spout of the poach creating apressure tight seal that allows the material to be forcibly squeezed outthe tube.

FIG. 4 Refilling of bypass type of dispenser with stand-up pouch refillcartridge with modified spout and pressure tight removable tube. A ventfitting is shown that allows liquid to be vented as it is displaced byfresh new liquid or gel product. Arrows show denser product beingforcibly squeezed into chemical holding container and settling to thebottom.

FIG. 5 Refilling of flow-through type of dispenser modified toaccommodate a threadably engagable refill cartridge with a roll-up tool.Arrows show product being forcibly squeezed into chemical holdingcontainer. Removable container could be disposable type refillcartridge. Flow-through dispenser could be a modified standard filterhousing. This process could be followed without turning the waterpressure off.

FIG. 6 Refilling of solution-tank type of dispenser with largercontainer or stand-up pouch refill cartridge. The container could be aslarge as 55-gallon drum. The arrow shows product being dropped intochemical holding container. The chemical holding tank is notpressurised. Drawing shows mechanical metering pump pumping watertreatment solution into pressurized pipeline. Pouch could be made of awater-soluble material that would gradually dissolve after placement inwater, preferably releasing the product at a rate partially determinedby the solubility rate of the package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the invention may further comprise an improvedpackaging means, which incorporates the above mentioned water treatmentproduct 20. The water treatment product 20 is installed in a stand-uppouch 10, or tube 50. Stand up pouches 10 are flexible, plastic pouchesfor containment of a liquid or other type of material. The pouches 10are formed from flexible-plastic material to have a unitary base portion11 which allows the pouch to stand upright. The pouch 10 illustrated inFIG. 1 and the tube 50 illustrated in FIG. 2, both have removablethreaded caps 51. The flexible-plastic pouches 10 containing theabove-mentioned water treatment product 20 as well as other sorts ofliquids can be transparent, translucent, or opaque, generally forpurposes of catching the eye of the consumer. They will generally have alabel 12 so that consumers or users can identify the substance 20 in thepouch 10. These pouches 10 serve as a type of “refill cartridge” forwater treatment dispensing apparatuses 13 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 inparticular.

According to a second aspect, the invention may further comprise aflexible tubular packaging means as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tube 50are formed from flexible-plastic material to have a unitary base portion11 which allows the tube 50 to stand upright. A particularly preferredmethod of applying force to the flexible tube type containers 50,similar to those used for toothpaste is illustrated in FIG. 2A. Aroll-up tool is used 52. The tool 52 generally comprises a pair ofspaced apart arm members 53 adapted to engage the base 11 of the tube 50and maintain the base 11 between the arm members as the tool 52 isrotated, rolling the flexible tube about the arm members 53. Thisalleviates work associated with having to pour the chemical into afunnel, or waiting for the material to flow out of the package into thecontainer by gravity alone.

The packaging means 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 is designed to beassociated with the chemical holding container of a water treatmentdispenser apparatus via a tube 54, indirectly through attachment to thepipe 63 (FIG. 4) through which the fluid to be treated flows. The tube54 may be provided with connectors at at least one end thereof in orderto attach the tube to the packaging means and/or the chemical holdingcontainer.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, thetube 54 is attachable more or less permanently to the chemical holdingcontainer using a threaded type connector 55 as described above. Theopposite end of the tube 54 does not have a connector 55, but is leftbare. According to this embodiment, the tube 54 is forced into acorrespondingly-sized opening 56 in the pouch 10 or tube 50 andmaintained there by an interference type fit. The opening 56 of thepouch 10 or tube 50 is provided with a sealing means 57 for improvingthe seal between the tube 54 and the opening 56 of the pouch 10 of tube50.

As seen in FIG. 4, the tube or packaging means may be associated withthe chemical holding container 60 of the water treatment dispenser ormay be associated with a pipe 63 or the like through which the fluid tobe treated flows. Appropriate fittings may be provided to allow theassociation with the pipe 63 or the dispensing apparatus.

A unique arrangement of “tees” 59 or access ports and valves may beprovided to a water treatment dispensing apparatus 58 allowing therecharging of the chemical holding container 60 without the need toremove the cap 61. This configuration also allows the chemical holdingcontainer 60 to be recharged without having to turn off the waterpressure, alleviating the nuisance of disrupting water service tooccupants or equipment.

The chemical dispenser is associated with a vent 64 allowing therefilling of the chemical holding container 60 without a build-up ofpressure within the chemical holding container 60. The vent 64 is openedafter the attachment of the tube 53 or pouch 10 to allow the entry ofthe refilling chemical to displace fluid from the chemical holdingcontainer 60 to maintain the pressure therein.

The pouch 10 can be squeezed, thereby forcibly injecting the watertreatment product 20 into the holding container. This alleviates workassociated with having to pour into a funnel, or waiting for thematerial to flow out of the pouch 10 into the container by gravityalone.

As seen in FIG. 5, the opening 56 of the tube 50 may be associateddirectly with a water treatment dispensing apparatus' filler opening,access-tee, or port 62. In this embodiment, the filler opening islocated at the bottom of the chemical holding container 60. Analternative position of the port 62 is shown ion the side of thecontainer 60. The tube 53 may suitably be squeezed using the tool 52thereby forcibly injecting the water treatment liquid or gel into theholding container 60.

Although the water treatment product 20 is not generally suitable formetering pump applications, having the higher viscosities in the orderof 2,000 to 50,000 centipoise, it does lend itself to usage inpoint-of-use bypass or flow-through type dispensers as seen in FIGS. 4and 5, or in other usages where the water treatment product would firstbe diluted and then dispensed with a metering pump 15, as seen in FIG.6. The water treatment product pouch 10 could be made of a water-solublematerial that would gradually dissolve after placement in water indispensing container or vessel, preferably providing a more controlledsolubility of the water treatment product in a day-tank application. Inthe case of using a solid, powdered or granular product, the addition ofan elemental component to the water treatment product, such as zinc,into the package, just before the package 10 is sealed would preferablyallow for a more consistent dispersion of the elemental compound in theday-tank or the point-of-use type dispenser.

1. A water treatment product comprising a mixture of at least one activeingredient and a first fluid, wherein the concentration in the productof the active ingredient is at least 50% on a weight basis and theviscosity of the product is at least 2,000 centipoise or 2 pascalseconds, the product adapted to be further diluted upon addition to asecond fluid stream to be treated.
 2. The water treatment productaccording to claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the mixture ranges fromabove approximately 2,000 centipoise or 2 Pa·s to approximately 50,000centipoise or 50 Pa·s.
 3. The water treatment product according to claim1 wherein the viscosity is achieved by mixing an ortho and polyphosphateblend with water.
 4. The water treatment product according to claim 3wherein the mixture of the ortho and polyphosphate blend with wateroccurs at weight ratios of between about 50:50 to 80:20.
 5. The watertreatment product according to claim 1 wherein an active ingredient usedin the mixture is chosen from the group comprising elemental or compoundforms of zinc, magnesium, copper, calcium, nitrites, nitrates,molybdates, dispersants, biocides, silicate and biostats in combinationor separately.
 6. The water treatment product according to claim 3wherein further comprising zinc.
 7. The water treatment productaccording to claim 6 wherein zinc is added to the product in theelemental form.
 8. The water treatment product according to claim 1contained in a flexible, packaging container for containment of a fluid.9. The water treatment product according to claim 8 wherein thecontainer is formed from flexible plastic material having a unitary baseportion which allows the container or pouch to stand upright.
 10. Thewater treatment product according to claim 8 wherein the container is aflexible tube type container, similar to those used for toothpaste. 11.The water treatment product according to claim 8 wherein the containeris made of a water soluble material that would gradually dissolve afterplacement of the container in water.
 12. An improved packaging means forcontaining a water treatment product comprising a flexible plastic pouchor tube having an opening engageable with an opening of a chemicalholding container of a point-of use, bypass or flow-through typedispenser.
 13. An improved packaging means for containing a watertreatment product according to claim 12 wherein elemental zinc is addedto the package prior to sealing said package.
 14. The improved packagingmeans according to claim 12 wherein the opening in the chemical holdingcontainer of a point-of use, bypass or flow-through type dispenser isprovided at the base of the container or through a side wall.
 15. Theimproved packaging means according to claim 14 wherein a roll-up toolgenerally comprising a pair of spaced apart arm members adapted toengage the base of the tube and maintain the base between the armmembers as the tool is rotated, rolling the flexible tube about the armmembers, is provided to assist with the application of force to theflexible containers.
 16. The improved packaging means according to claim12 wherein the container is associated with the chemical holdingcontainer via a tube directly with the container or indirectly, throughattachment to a pipe through which the fluid to be treated flows. 17.The improved packaging means according to claim 16 wherein the tube isprovided with a connector at at least one end thereof in order toreleasably attach the tube to the packaging container and/or thechemical holding container.
 18. The improved packaging means accordingto claim 17 wherein the tube is attachable permanently to the chemicalholding container using a threaded. type connector at a first end of thetube and a second end of the tube is left bare, the second end of thetube adapted to be forced into a correspondingly-sized opening in thepackaging container and maintained there by an interference type fit.